American Forests and the US Fish and Wildlife Service planted approximately 280,000 Atlantic white cedar, hickory, bald cypress, oaks, black gum, and tupelo trees in order to reforest a 503 acre tract in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

The land surrounding the refuge was quickly encroached upon by human expansion, and restoration of the site was crucial to the long-term viability of black bear, Southeastern short-tailed shrew (an endangered species), and other refuge wildlife populations. Over two hundred species of birds have been identified, many of which nest at the refuge. The project area is also home to black bears, bobcats, deer, otters, bats, raccoons, mink, gray and red foxes, and squirrels. There is also an abundance of reptile and amphibian creatures living in the refuge.